Sodexo’s New DRIVE Platform Streamlines Foodservice Operations

August 12, 2016

GAITHERSBURG, Md., August 12, 2016 — From hospital kitchens that cater to the varying nutritional needs of patients, to university dining halls that feed the busy student rush between classes, the job of a foodservice operations manager is fast-paced. Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services managing operations at 9,000 client sites throughout North America, many of which include food services, is streamlining operations to improve client and customer satisfaction through its new DRIVE Platform. DRIVE incorporates menus, recipe and production management, purchasing and inventory into one end-to-end process flow.

The standardization will enhance Sodexo’s overall quality and reduce the implementation time for new offers that cater to consumers’ preferences. Brian Smith, Sodexo vice president of Information Services & Technology, said that although traditional restaurant corporations use this type of standardization platform, among Sodexo’s foodservice industry competitors, DRIVE is a breakthrough system. “DRIVE is bringing our operations to a best-in-class model. It enables Sodexo to optimize our operations, reduce food waste and deliver value in the fast-paced environment that we live in today while meeting changing consumer demands,” Smith said.

When Smith’s team started building the DRIVE Platform three years ago, they began by imagining what the next generation Food Operations platform would look like if they streamlined processes. With different systems for food production, menu management and recipes, ordering, inventory and invoice reconciliation, unit operations managers were spending too much time completing back office tasks, leaving less time to interact with clients and customers.

DRIVE offers a streamlined, consistent business process, user-friendly technology and true visibility into menu costs and margins. Perhaps most innovative is that Sodexo’s central culinary team uses the system to standardize menus based on consumer insights.

Smith said, “Our culinary team develops standard menus and recipes that have been researched and vetted with our consumers, and comply with nutritional requirements. It takes the guesswork out of menu and recipe planning. Our unit operators can spend less time on the behind the scenes administrative activities and focus on delivering a world class client and customer experience.”

The DRIVE platform is currently in the deployment phase, having just completed the first pilot at one location with two additional sites launching this month. Sodexo expects to implement DRIVE companywide over the coming years.

Sodexo delivers more than 100 services across North America that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life. The Fortune Global 500 company is a leader in delivering sustainable, integrated facilities management and foodservice operations.